I’m going to Abbeville and St Valery-en-Caux in March for research purposes. Very excited. Has anyone got any tips for preparing and making the most of a walking the ground trip? @historybowsh.bsky.social @seaspitfires.com @seanfscullion.bsky.social - ThreadSky

historyeuan.bsky.social • 44 days ago

I’m going to Abbeville and St Valery-en-Caux in March for research purposes. Very excited. Has anyone got any tips for preparing and making the most of a walking the ground trip?

@historybowsh.bsky.social
@seaspitfires.com @seanfscullion.bsky.social

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danieljphelan.bsky.social•43 days ago

If you’re interested in military personnel who are buried or commemorated in the area, I’d recommended the free CWGC app.

historyeuan.bsky.social•43 days ago

Thanks Dan that’s really handy.

danieljphelan.bsky.social•43 days ago

Before visiting a CWGC site, I download and look at the list of who’s buried in the cemetery. This is useful when looking for specific regiments and units, and also shows those with specific awards, ranks etc. The app has a cemetery plan which makes it easy to find them when ‘on the ground’.

historyeuan.bsky.social•43 days ago

I know a lot of the dead are in smaller cemeteries too, as they were retreating there were small battles kicking off across a wide area.

danieljphelan.bsky.social•43 days ago

Every cemetery tells a story, so does every casualty. The CWGC app and website gives a brief history. What’s the aim of your trip?

historyeuan.bsky.social•43 days ago

It’s research for a book. Hoping to get a feel for the place and add context to the primary sources I’ve collected.

historyeuan.bsky.social•43 days ago

That’s great, I haven’t taken a close enough look at the website. I didn’t realise they have so much detail!!

seanfscullion.bsky.social•44 days ago

Full days. Pick up leaflets. Maybe do some voice notes whilst there. Also double check timings as you go....

historyeuan.bsky.social•44 days ago

Great, thanks Sean. Timings for past events or monitor the time?

seanfscullion.bsky.social•44 days ago

Both. Depending on the size of your group etc...the timings can slip. Important to have fudge....

historyeuan.bsky.social•44 days ago

I get what you mean. It’s just me so no distractions! Would you prep locations, units involved, maps etc in advance? Maybe a fact sheet for each one?

seanfscullion.bsky.social•44 days ago

For the recce you need to take as many source materials with you so you can check on what to use at each loc. Build it up. Yes, fact sheets good plus bullets on discussion points. Take photos of sites so you know where to stand etc. Don't forget traffic etc + other hazards. Drop me a message.

historyeuan.bsky.social•44 days ago

Amazing, thanks Sean. I’ll drop you a line tomorrow.

bunkerkruiper.bsky.social•43 days ago

Are you also interested in German fortifications from WW2?
Lots of bunkers in that area.
Just let me know.
I can fix a Google Earth file for you.

historyeuan.bsky.social•43 days ago

Hi Jack, it’s June 1940 I’m looking at. I assume the Germans hadn’t built fortifications in France by that point? I am interested in the German side of things though, so any thoughts are most welcome!!

bunkerkruiper.bsky.social•43 days ago

Dear Euan, No German stuff from 1940 there (in fortifications) I assume everything was built later in the war. could be there were trenches or foxholes dug in 1940 but i do not have any idea if anything is left.

historyeuan.bsky.social•43 days ago

Thanks Jack. It’s one of the problems of doing 1940, there’s a general lack of everything. All the troops decided by 1944 to keep a journal but not so much in 1940.

bunkerkruiper.bsky.social•43 days ago

That is one of the reasons that I got in to fortifications when i was young (i read my first book about German fortifications when I was about 7 or 8 in the public library) except for fortifications nothing seem to be left and we had a lot of bunkers where i lived and where we had our vacations.

historyeuan.bsky.social•42 days ago

Absolutely, they are living history!

merrynwalters.uk•43 days ago

Let me know which maps you need, happy to share copies (it can really help to have contemporary mapping with you).

historyeuan.bsky.social•43 days ago

That would be incredible!! I’m going to the area around Abbeville, St Valery-sur-Somme, Huppy, Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Fecamp, Ault and the area surrounding St Valery-en-Caux. I have some contemporary maps from unit war diaries but they’re not too clear.

merrynwalters.uk•43 days ago

I’ll put a pack together for you.

historyeuan.bsky.social•43 days ago

That’s brilliant, thanks so much!!

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